Mary Royce

Mary Royce (1960-) was Governor of Louisiana from 1990 to 1992, preceding John Friberg. She was elected amid a Republican landslide victory in the State House, and she was a staunch conservative who blocked gun control legislation and either rejected or eliminated state taxes.

Biography
Mary Royce was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1960, and she became the CEO of the Royce's Roost Family Restaurant chain during the late 1980s, taking over from her father. In 1990, she ran for Governor against populist Republican challenger Brian Moyer and Democratic candidate Brian Verret, and she won the jungle primary with 44.8% to Moyer's 34.5% and Verret's 20.7%.

Under Royce, the State House voted 33-1 against gun control, 23-9 to legalize prostitution, 19-11 against the implementation of an income tax. The ensuing elections saw the Democrats pick up two seats (a total of 7) and increase their share of the vote to 19.28%, while the Republicans dropped to 80.72% and 29 seats. In the ensuing gubernatorial election, Royce was re-elected with 47.4% of the vote. The State House voted 24-9 against a land tax, 25-2 in favor of an agricultural subsidy, 11-8 to keep prostitution legal (despite populist attempts to abolish it), and 34-1 in favor of agriculture research. In early 1991, the Democrats increased their share of the vote to 21.47% and 8 seats, while the Republicans were reduced to 78.52% and 28 seats. Royce again won re-election, this time with 47.5%. The Republican-dominated House voted 27-8 to abolish the consumption tax, their only major achievement in the new session. The ensuing elections saw the Democrats win 28.70% and 10 seats, reducing the Republican share of the vote to 71.29% and 26 seats. The ensuing gubernatorial election saw Royce win re-election with 42.4% of the vote. The State House voted 16-13 against an income tax, 21-11 against gun control, and 18-10 against protest prohibition. In late October 1991, Royce was involved in a corruption scandal, harming her popularity. In the early February 1992 elections, the Democrats rose to 29.39% and 11 seats, while the populist Republicans rose to 33.34% and 12 seats and the Establishment Republicans dropped to 37.28% and 13 seats. The term-limited Royce stepped down ahead of the next gubernatorial election, and John Friberg won with 39.7% of the vote.